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.A. B. THOMAS TUB 0R BOX' covnn PASTENER.

No. 344,691. Patented June 29, 1886.

UNITED STATES Parent @rrron.

ALMER B. THOMAS, OF \VEST RANDOLPH, VERMONT.

TU B OR BOX COVER FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 344:,691, dated June 29, 1886.

Application filed March 31, 1886. Serial No. 197,363. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALMER B. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Randolph, in the county of Orange and State of Vermont, have invented a new and useful Tub or Box Cover Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a tub or box cover fastener made of iron, brass, or other suitable metal; and the object of my invention is, first, to provide a tub or box cover fastener that will secure the top or cover of any tub or box tightly and strongly to such tub or box; second, to provide a tub or box cover fastener that can be used to fasten the top or cover of any tub or box with the least possible trouble,- and that will, when so used, afford the greatest possible slrength and no liability of displacement. I attain these objects by the device or contrivance illustrated in the ZICCOIH' panying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the fast ener; Fig. 2, a sectional virw of a tub and box, showing the appearance of the device when partially adjusted; Fig. 3, a sectional view of a tub and box showing the appearance of the device when fully adjusted; Fig. 1, a box with the device fully adjusted for use.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the various drawings.

This tub or box cover fastener consists of a piece of flat thin iron or other suitable metal, varying in length, breadth, and thickness as may be desired, terminating, as shown, in two barbs or brads, I) and J. These barbs or brads may be round or flattened on two sides, and of such length and size as may be desired, and tapering to sharp points at E and F, and said barbs or brads each may be indented at intervals on four sides. Said piece of iron or other suitable metal is bent at a right angle at the point A, with a raised fiat head to the barb 1), formed by swaging, and is also bent at a right angleat the point C and at an acute angle at the point B, so that the point F, after the barb D has been driven into the box, will be approximately in line with the vertical portion of the fastener, as the fastener is curved, as shown at 1, between the points H and B, so that the barb-point J is kept clear of the side of the box, so as not to interfere when the point D is driven into place. The barb or brad J is bent slightly upward or inward at about the point K, the remaining portion of it being straight.

In the use of the fastener, the shorter arm thereof, containing the barb D, is placed in such position that the right-angled turn 0 will come at the corner of the box, and the barb D is then driven home. This is done accurately, and is not interfered with by the barb at the other end, for the reason above explained. This leaves the fastener in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the horizontal and vertical portions thereof fitting closely the corresponding portions of the box, the lower barb resting with its point against the side of the box, as in the left-of Fig. 2, or a little way from it when used in the form of box shown in the right of thesaid figure, the curve in the metal keeping the barb in this position. A blow at the point B will drive the barb J home into the side of the box, and on account of its curved shape it will curve slightly upward, as shown, which will thus practically clinch this end of the fastener in place, the spring of the metal caused by the curve I drawing in a straight line from the point F of the barb, thus rendering it impossible to be withdrawn without force. The two barbs mentioned are round and nearly of a size the whole length, (except the points E and F, above mentioned,) so as not to split the wood in their insertion, and if they are indented, as above mentioned, will be more strongly retained in the wood. The point at A is raised to form a fiat and perfect head for the blow, but after the blow the metal bends slightly and the head disappears. The metal is made flat and thin, so that if any force should accidentally teud to drive the cover downward from its position when the device was first adjusted the metal between A, O, and B will easily spring and give, and have no tendency to work the brads loose in the wood, and also to prevent any unusual strain from indenting the metal at G into the corner of the cover, and also to do away with any projections at any point for any body or matter to hit or chafe against, thereby rendering any displacement, except by intention, impossible.

Having described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent the way while the upper barb is being driven of the United States is into place, substantially as and for the pur- A fastener for boxes, consisting of two arms pose set forth. bent at right angles to each ctier, and each ALMER B. THOMAS. 5 having fastening-barbs, one of said arms being Witnesses: a

formed with its lower portion on a curve, W. S. CURTIS, whereby the lower barb will be kept out of J, D. DENISON. 

